Nursing Home Aide Charged with Manslaughter

The Hudson Independent reports that a nursing home aide was charged last month with felony manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide for the 2012 death of an 86-year-old female resident. The nurse aide at Tarrytown Hall Care Center, could face up to 15 years in state prison if convicted.

“Because of this aide’s disregard of basic safety measures and precautions meant to protect the vulnerable seniors she served, a woman died,” said Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, according to the newspaper report. “The egregious lack of care afforded this frail resident warrants the serious charges against this aide.” The resident suffered from “severe debilitating physical ailments which prevented her from walking or speaking and rendered her totally dependent on staff.” The nursing home’s employees were supposed to use a mechanical lift and two people to move her from bed to a wheelchair.

According to the newspaper report, the nursing aide “allegedly used the lift herself and ignored other safety measures when she transferred the resident. During the transfer, she dropped the resident to the floor causing her to suffer fractures to her spine and right leg, along with a broken nose and a bruised face. Instead of seeking immediate help, Flowers allegedly left the resident bleeding on the floor while she sought another aide and asked her to lie about helping Flowers with the patient.” The resident died two hours later at hospital. The Hudson Independent reports that another nursing aide, Donna Pagan, pled guilty earlier this year to falsifying business records.